Storage device



` April 25,`1944- w. E. sAxE STORAGE DEVICE Filecl June 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NEEM .bm lllvllmvllmlbmb IKM April 25, 1944. w. E. sAxE 2,347,437

- STORAGE DEVICE Filed June 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N vf/v To@ WAL TER E. JAA/E v April 25, 1944- w. E. SAXE 2,347,437

. STORAGE lbvlfcE Fiied Jima 2Q 1941 s sheets-sheet s FO@ THE FIRM ,4 TTOMEYJ Patented Apr. 25, 1944 Y s'ronAGE DEVICE Walter E. Saxe, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to The Conveyor Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 2, '1941, Serial Nc. 396,349

Claims.

My invention relates to a. storage device and, since it iinds particular utility in the storage and dispensing of granular or pulverized materials employed for building purposes, its advantages and that embodiment best adapted for the reception, storage, and dispensing of cement are here` inafter described.

Very considerable savings are eifected in the construction of buildings, dams, and the like employing large quantities of cement if the cement is purchased and handled in bulk instead of in sacks or in barrels, since the cost of such receptacles and the workmens time required for their handling is entirely eliminated.

When bulk cement is employed upon such projects, it is necessary to provide means of storing it adjacent the construction project since its rate of delivery and consumption cannot be maintained equal. It has been proposed to provide such storage devices by assembling them on the work and upon completion of the project disassembling them for -future use. Such practice requires the services of skilled workmen over a period of several days in assembling the storage device in its place of use, installing the prime movers for the handling of the material therein, and consumes much time which the builder can usually ill afford.

It is an object of my invention to provide a portable unitary storage device which may be transported as. a unit to its place of use and be removed from the transporting vehicle and set up in operative position upon the ground by a single operator and which may upon the completion of the project be positioned upon the transporting vehicle as a unit by a single operator.

Among the other objects of my invention are the provision of a device for storing cement or Athe like providing a continuous supply of material to a discharge outlet while receiving an intermittent supply of the material at an inlet hopper,- and the provision in such a storage device of means for providing a visible indication to the operator when the device is lled to capacity;

Still other objects of my invention include the provision of a storage device which is easily operated by a single individual and which has instruments for the control of all of its various parts grouped inan easily accessible manner within the structure.

An embodiment of my invention capable of performing these objects and providing these advantages and adapted for'the reception, storage, and dispensing of cement is described in the following specification, which may be better understood by reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the storage device set up for use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are horizontal sectional views taken as indicated by the lines 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5 of Fig. 2, respectively;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the storage device of my invention resting upon a transporting vehicle with the supporting means engaging the earth in position to remove the device from the vehicle;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated by the line 1 1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is anA enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the mechanism for moving the kstorage device vertically relative to the vehicle and the ground.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only, the numeral II indicates a; shell of sheet iron or the like of sumcient thickness to withstand without distortion the pressure of material filling it, and preferably cylindrical in cross section. The shell I I includes a top plate I 2 cooperating with an upwardly projecting housing I3 enclosing the upper end of the shell. The shell Il is provided near its lower end with an inlet opening I4 for the passage of material from a receiving hopper I5 projecting outwardly of the shell II and provided with upwardly extending end plates IS. Communicating with the hopper I5 and the inlet opening I4 is a vertical passage I1 formed by vertical side walls I8 joined to the inner surface of the shell II and to a vertical end wall-l9. At the lower end of the vertical passage I1 and the receiving hopper I5 is provided a curvedvbottom plate 20 joining an outwardly inclined plate 2| of the receiving hopper I5 so that material is urged by gravity from the receiving hopper I5 to the :bottom of the verticall passage I1.

The vertical end wally I9.of the passage Il is provided at its upper extremity with an inwardly directed shield member 22, forfa purpose to be later described, atapproximately the same level as the top plate I2 and spaced from an inclined wall 23 of the upwardly projecting housing I3 to define a passage 24 for the discharge of material into a discharge hopper 25 therebeneath. The discharge hopper 25 is supported within the shell Il iii-any suitable manner. As illustrated in the drawings, I have provided a pair of U- beams 26 extending across the interior of the tank II adjacent its upper end and two angle irons 21 extending from each of the U-beams 26 to the receiving hopper 25 to support it inthe desired position. At its lower end the discharge hopper 25 is providedwith an outlet opening 28 communicating with a discharge pipe 29 extending outwardly of the shell II.

Secured to the inner surface of the shell I I adjacent but spaced above its lower end is a frustoconical wall 30 in fluid-tight relationship with the inner surface of the shell II and the outer surface of the vertical side walls I8 and the vertical end wall. I9 of the vertical passage I1. The

frusto-conical wall 30 is provided at its lower end with a discharge lopening 3I communicating with a horizontal cylindrical pipe 32, one end of which is closed by an end plate 33 and the other end of which communicates with the vertlcal passage I1 above the curved bottom plate 20. The frusto-conical wall 30,A together with the shell II and the walls I8 and I9 of the vertical' passage I1, defines a storage receptacle, indicated by the numeral 34, around and beneath the discharge hopper 25.

Means are provided for conveying or directing material in the receiving hopper I toward the middle thereof in the form of a ribbon conveyor 35. The ribbon conveyor 35 includes a plurality of radial arms 36 secured to a horizontal shaft 31 mounted for rotation in end walls 35 of the receiving hopper I5. Opposed spiral ribbons 39 are secured upon the radial arms 3B so that they rotate in close proximity to an inner vertical wall 39a of the receiving hopper I5 and urge material in the hopper I5 toward the middle thereof. Fixedly mounted upon the horizontal shaft 31 at the middle thereof is a sprocket 40 adapted for meshing with a chain elevator 4I carrying buckets 42 and which passes over an upper sprocket 43 mounted upon a horizontal shaft 44 supported f or rotation in the upwardly projecting housing I3. As is best illustrated in Fig. 2, the sprocket `4I) and the buckets 42 are so dimensioned that the buckets are moved in close proximity to the curved bottom plate of the vertical passage I1, scooping material therefrom and discharging it through the opening 24 into the discharge hopper 25. The shield member 22 at the upper end of the vertical end wall I9 of the passage I1 prevents the material so discharged from the buckets 42 from passing into the vertical passage I1.

The upper horizontal shaft 44 is provided with a driven sprocket 45 exterior of the upwardly projecting housing I3 and meshing with a drive chain 46 which passes over a driving sprocket 41. The driving sprocket 41 is rotated through a suitable gear reduction means, indicated by the numeral 48, by a motor 49 mounted upon the upper surface of the top member I2.

Means are provided in the discharge pipe 23 for conveying material from the discharge hopper to the exterior of the shell II, this means,

- as illustrated in the drawings, including a screw 50, the shaft of which extends through an inner end plate 5I of the discharge pipe 29 and has attached thereto a driven sprocket 52. The driven sprocket 52 is rotated by a drive chain 53 meshing with a drive sprocket 54 rotated by a suitable motor 55.

The shell II is provided with a recess adjacent the lower end of the discharge hopper 25 and defined by an inwardly extending lower wall 51, a vertical inner wall 53, and vertical side walls 59, which vertical walls are secured tothe discharge hopper 25. A motor mount 50 is secured to the lower wall 51 and supports the motor 55 in the desired position where itis accessible for inspection and repair.

Means is provided for conveying or directing material from the storage receptacle 34 through the horizontal cylindrical pipe 32 to the bottom of the vertical passage I1 and the receiving hopper I5, which means is in the form oi' a screw 'driven by a chain 58 meshing with a driveA sprocket 51 rotated by a. suitable motor 68. The motor 68 is supported upon a motor mount 89 secured to the shell II.

It will be noted that considerable space is provided within the shell II beneath the storage receptacle 34 around the frusto-conical wall 30 and the walls dening the vertical passage I1 and the receiving hopper I5, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. Access to this space,which may be identified as a compartment 10, is provided through an opening 1I in the shell II. An instrument panel 12 is mounted on the inner surface of the shell II within the compartment 1I! and supports control devices 13,14, and 15 for the control of current to the motors 49, 55, and 58, respectively.

When the storage device is set up vertically, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, cement or the likemay be discharged intermittently into the receiving hopper I5 in which it is urged by the inclination of the walls of the receiving hopper I5 and therotation of the ribbon conveyor 35 to the middle of the hopper I5. It will be noted that the ribbon conveyor 35 does not move all of the material adjacent the sides of the receiving hopper I5 toward the middle thereof, but acts upon only a portion of such material. The material thus directed to the middle of the conveyor I5 is picked up by the buckets 42 and carried by the chain elevator 4I upwardly in the vertical passage I1 and discharged through the opening 24 into the discharge hopper 25. It will be noted also that, since the chain elevator 4I and the ribbon conveyor 35 are connected to a common shaft 31, the rate at which the material in the receiving hopper I5 is urged toward the middle thereof is a definite function oi the rate at which the chain elevator removes the material from the middle of the receiving hopper I5.

The discharge pipe 29 being connected to a place of use of the cement or to an automatic weighing device or the like, the motor 55 is energized either through manipulation of the control 14 or automatically by the weighing device of the batch plant, so that the 'desired quantity of cement is moved through the discharge pipe 29 by the action of the screw 50 therein, and thereafter the motor 55 is deenergized.

Cement being supplied to the receiving hopper I5 at a rate greater than the withdrawal of the cement from the discharge hopper 25, the cement overows the discharge hopper 25 and falls into the storage receptacle 34. It will be notedA during the continuous transportation of cement from the receiving hopper I to thev discharge hopper 25 and the storage receptacle 34. When it is desired to draw upon the material in the storage receptacle 34 to supply the discharge receptacle 25, the motor. 88 is energized, causing the screw 8| to direct material from the storage receptacle 34 through the horizontal cylindrical pipe 32 into the receiving hopper I5 and vertical passage I1 in which it is directed to the chain elevator 4| .by the ribbon conveyor 35 as previously described.

Inasmuch as the upper end of the discharge hopper 25 is at a considerable distance above the ground and invisible to the operator, my invention provides means for visibly indicating to the operator on the surface of the ground when the storage receptacle 34 and the discharge hopper 25 are filled to their capacities. This means includes a discharge pipe 16, the upper, open end of which is positioned adjacent the upper edge of the discharge hopper 25 and a distance thereabove such that the material may overflow the discharge hopper 25 into the storage receptacle 34 Without passing into the discharge pipe 16 until the level of the material in the storage receptacle 34 is at the top of the discharge hopper 25 and the discharge hopper 25 is filled, at which time material passes through the discharge pipe 16. As illustrated in Fig. l, the discharge pipe 16 passes downwardly outside of the shell II with its lower end adjacent one of the end plates I6 and slightly above the outwardly inclined bottom plate'2I of the receiving hopper I5. When cement is discharged from the lower end of the pipe 16 into the receiving hopper I5, the operator is made aware that thedevice is filled to capacity, and the operation of the chain elevator 4| should be discontinued 'until some of the contents of the storage device are withdrawn.

For the purpose of enabling a single operator to move the storage device herein described from a transporting vehicle such as a truck or trailer into its operative position at the desired location, my invention provides a transposing means, indicated generally by the numeral 18. Such means includes a shaft 19, best illustrated in Fig. 7, which extends through the shell near its center of gravity and is rotatably secured thereto by bosses 80. On each end of the shaft 19 is a pinion gear 8| adapted for meshing with a rack 82 fixedly connected to an upright 83 of a supporting member. or means 84. The supporting means includes a second upright 85 and a base 86 having an inner straight portion 81 to which the lower ends of the uprights 83 and 85 are connected. The base includes also angled portions 88 connecting the portion 81 to an outer straight portion 89. Inclined brace members 90 are connected at their lower ends to the outer extremities of the angled portions 88 of the base and at their upper extremities to the uprights 83 and 85.

be connected to the supply line 98 to withdraw fluid from the cylinders 93. The cylinder 98 is provided with a piston actuated by a lever |0I so that, a suitable one-way valve being installed between the cylinder and the valve 91, a workman can by reciprocation of the lever |0| force uid under pressure from the reservoir 99 through the supply line 86 and the lines 94 and 95 to the cylinders 93. This fluid under pressure in the cylinders 93 moves the pistons therein upwardly and thus forces the moving racks 92 upwardly. Such movement of the racks 92 causes rotation of the pinion gears 8| and this rotation by virtue of their meshing relationship with the stationary racks 82 causes the pinions 8| to move upwardly, carrying the shaft 19 and the storage device connected thereto,

ken lines |08 of Fig. 6, each pinion gear 8| being moved from the position in which it ls indicated in full lines to the position indicated in the dotted lines |09 of the same gure. The shell is retained in this elevated position while the vehicle is moved from under it. Since the shell is suspended upon the shaft 19 at substantially its center of gravity, the operator can rotate the shell II upon the shaft 19 into the posi tion indicated by the broken line |08 of Fig. 6.

The absence of timbers |04 in the central portion of the shallow pit |02 permits the forward edge of the bottom of the shell to freely move into the desired position. Thereafter the operator positions beneath the shell I l additional timbers |04 to support the weight of the storage device and releases the iluid from the cylinders 93, permitting the shell II to descend upon sucb timbers. The control of the fluid in' the cylinders 93 after the vehicle |03 is moved from under the shell may be either by the two-way vValve 91, the supply line 96 being made of suiiicient length to connect it to the lines 84 and 95 after the vehicle is thus moved, or a valve may be vinterposed in each of the lines 94 and 95 between the cylinders 93 and a coupling permitting a disconnection of such lines from the supply line 96. If desired, the pinion gears may be made removable from the shaft 19 so that the supporting means 18 may be-removed from the shell after it is installed in proper position.

The controls 13 to 15 inclusive may be electrically connected in any suitable manner, not shown, to an electrical outlet |08 on the exterior of the shell so that it is only 'necessary for the workman to plug into the outlet |08 in connection with a suitable source of electric current in order toV render the storage device ready for loperation. i

It will be obvious that when it isdesired to move the storage device it is necessary onlyto reverse the process just described, and it will thus be seen that a single workman can in a very few minutes either remove the storage device from a transporting vehicle and install it in readiness for use or move the storage device from its operative position onto a transporting vehicle-for removalfrom the work. From the description yof the construction and operation of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, it will be apparent that my invention provides a storage device capable of continuously supplying material to a discharge hopper while receiving material intermittently for storage and a device in which there is a continuous movement oi.' the material from the receiving hopper or storage receptacle to the discharge hopper.

It will likewise be 'apparent that my invention provides such a device with means for giving a `visible indication to the operator on the ground when the device is filled to capacity. By the grouping of all of the controls upon a single, easily accessible instrument panel protected from the weather, my invention also provides a device of the character described which can be easily and positively operated and controlled by a single workman.

While that embodiment of my invention hereinbefore described and illustrated is fully capable of performing the objects and providing the advantages primarily stated, and while it finds particular utility in the receiving, storing, and dispensing of cement, it is to be understood that my invention is not restricted to such embodiments or to such use, but includes such modifications, variations, and different uses as come within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a portable storage device, the combination of a shell; a receiving hopper connected to said shell; a discharge hopper connected to said shell above said receiving hopper; elevator means in said shell adapted for moving material from said receiving hopper to said discharge hopper; a storage receptacle in said shell below said discharge hopper and adapted for receiving material overflowing therefrom; first conveyor means in said shell adapted for directing material in said receiving hopper toward said elevator means; a lirst drive means connected to said shell adapted for actuating said elevator means and said first conveyor means; second conveyor means in said shell adapted for directing material from said receptacle toward said elevator means; a second drive means connected to said shell adapted for actuating said second conveyor means; discharge conveyor means adapted for directing material from said discharge hopper to the outside of said shell; and a third drive means connected to said shell and adapted for actuating said discharge conveyor means, said three drive means being independent of each other, whereby said discharge conveyor means may be actuated independently of said elevator means and said first conveyor means and independently of said second conveyor means.

2. In a portable storage device, the combination of: a shell; a receiving hopper connected to said shell; a discharge hopper connected to said shell above said receiving hopper; elevator means in said shell adapted for moving material from said receiving hopper to said discharge hopper; a storage receptacle in said shell below said discharge hopper and adapted for receiving material overowing therefrom, the lower end of said receptacle being spaced from the lower end of said shell and providing a compartment therebetween; iirst conveyor means4 in said shell adapted for directing' material in said receiving hopper toward said elevator means; a first drive means connected to said shell adapted for actuating said elevator means and said rst conveyor means; second conveyor means in said shell adapted for directing material from said receptacle toward said elevator means; a second drive means connected to said shell adapted 'for actuating said second conveyor means; discharge conveyor means adapted for directing material from said discharge hopper to the outside of said shell; a third drive means connected to said shell and adapted for actuating said discharge conveyor means; and separate control means in said compartment for each of said drive means.

3. In a portable storage device, the combination of t a shell adapted to receive the material to be stored; supporting members pivoted to said shell; elevating means connected to said members and said shell and adapted for moving said shell vertically when said members are supported upon the ground, whereby said shell may be lifted from a tractive vehicle and, after removal of the vehicle, swung ninety degrees relative to said supporting members and supported upon the ground; and means maintaining equal the vertical movement of said shell relative to each 'of said members.

4. In a portable storage device, the combination of a shell adapted to receive material yto be stored; supporting members pivoted to said shell; manually operable elevating means connected to said members and said shell and adapted for moving said shell vertically when said members are supported upon the ground, whereby said shell may be lifted from a tractive vehicle and, after removal of the vehicle, swung ninety degrees and lowered to support upon the ground; and means maintaining equal the vertical movement of said shell relative to each of said members.

5. In a portable storage device, the combination of: a shell adapted to receive and discharge material to be stored; supporting members pivoted to said shell substantially at its center of gravity; manually operable elevating means connected to each of said -members, and said shell and adapted for moving said shell vertically when said members are supported upon the ground, whereby said shell may be moved between positions supported on a vehicle and a position supported on the ground; and means maintaining equal the vertical movement of each of said elevating means.

6. In a portable storage device, the combination of: a shell adapted to receive and discharge material to be stored; supporting members removably pivoted to said shell; manually operable moved between positions supported on a vehicle and a position supported on the ground; and means maintaining equal the vertical movement of each of said elevating means.

7. In a portable storage device, the combination of: a shell adapted to receive and discharge material to be stored; a shaft projecting from each side of said shell substantially at its center of gravity; a supporting member spaced from each side of said shell; and elevating means connecting each of said members to oneof said shafts and adapted for moving said shell ver'- tically when said members are supported upon the ground, whereby said shell may be'moved between a position supported on' a vehicle and a position supported on the ground.

8. In a portable device for storing material, the combination of: a receiving hopper; a discharge hopper; elevating means adapted for lifting material from said receiving hopper and dlscharging it into said discharge hopper; a storage receptacle so related to said discharge hopper as to receive material overowing from said discharge hopper, said receptacle so communicating with said receiving hopper as to supply material to said elevating means; and means adapted for providing visible indication of the filling of said discharge hopper and said receptacle to the desired capacity by delivering to said receiving hopper less than all of the material being delivered by said elevating means after said desired capacityhas been filled.

v9. In a portable device for storing material, the combination of: a receiving hopper; a discharge hopper; elevating means adapted for lifting material from said receiving hopper and discharging it into said discharge hopper; a storage receptacle so related to said dischargehopper as to receive material overilowing from said discharge hopper, said receptacle communicating adjacent its lower end with said receiving hopper.; conveyor means adapted for moving material from said receptacle to said elevating means; and means adapted for providing visible indication of thefilling of said discharge hopper and said receptacle to the desired 'capacity by delivering to said receivingv hopper less than all of the material being delivered by said elevating means after said desired capacity has been lled.

l0. In a-portable storage device, the combination of: a portable shell; a receiving hopper connected to said shell, a discharge hopper connected to said shell above said receiving hopper;

elevator means in said shell adapted for moving material from said receiving hopper to said discharge hopper; a storage receptacle in said shell below said discharge hopper and receiving the material overflowing therefrom; means in said WALTEI#u E. sAxa. 

